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Retirement accounts aren’t always known for their flexibility, which is why the Roth IRA stands out for its relaxed early withdrawal rules: Because these accounts are funded with after-tax dollars, you’re free to pull out contributions at any time.

You can tap a Roth IRA, up to the amount you’ve contributed, for any reason, ranging from the responsible (there’s a hole in your roof and your kitchen is now a swimming pool) to the frivolous (you want to build a rooftop swimming pool above your kitchen).

That doesn’t mean you should tap the account. The following quiz will give you the quick answer to whether your Roth IRA early withdrawal will be taxed — or read on for more details below.

Quick rundown: Roth IRA early withdrawals

If you want to withdraw contributions: After-tax contributions — commonly called “basis” — can be withdrawn at any time, for any reason, with no taxes or penalties.

If you want to withdraw earnings: You must satisfy two requirements for a qualified distribution to avoid taxes and a 10% penalty. First, you must have held a Roth IRA account for at least five years, a clock that starts ticking at the beginning of the year of your first contribution. Second, you must be at least 59½, disabled, dead (the distribution is taken by heirs) or using up to $10,000 toward a first-home purchase.

If you don’t satisfy both points, a withdrawal of earnings is likely to come with income taxes and penalties. Some exceptions, outlined below, allow you to avoid the 10% penalty — but not taxes — on certain early distributions that aren’t qualified.

Early withdrawals of Roth IRA contributions

With great flexibility comes great responsibility. You contributed to a Roth IRA for retirement; it’s wise to avoid raiding it before you make it to that finish line.

It might give you peace of mind to know Roth IRA contributions can be tapped in a pinch

If it were as simple as taking a quick dip into your contributions to meet a short-term expense, then replenishing that money soon after, there wouldn’t be much issue, provided you trusted yourself to actually replenish that money. But Roth IRA contribution limits are $6,000 a year in 2019 ($7,000 if you’re 50 or older) and loans aren’t allowed, so you can’t easily replace money you’ve pulled out if you already make the maximum contribution each year.

However, it might give you peace of mind to know Roth IRA contributions can be tapped in a pinch. They’re not a replacement for an emergency fund or an excuse to live above your means, but if things get dire, they can be a source of quick cash.

If you take an early withdrawal from a Roth IRA, contributions come out first, which is a rare move by the IRS to make things easier on you. You don’t have to worry about taxes — or about accounting for which portion of your distribution comes from earnings, and which from contributions — unless you pull out more than you’ve contributed.

Early withdrawals of Roth IRA earnings

Need to tap earnings? That’s where things get hairy.

Because you’ve made those after-tax contributions, you get to take qualified distributions tax-free

The Roth IRA’s tax treatment has people swooning: Because you’ve made those after-tax contributions, you get to take qualified distributions tax-free. Trouble is, the IRS’s definition of a qualified distribution is narrow, and a distribution of earnings before age 59½ probably won’t meet it.

Early distributions of earnings for these reasons are considered qualified: not subject to taxes or the 10% penalty

Early distributions of earnings for these reasons are considered exceptions: taxable as income, but not subject to the 10% penalty

You've held a Roth IRA for at least five years AND you are taking the distribution in one of the following circumstances:

• You're age 59 1/2 or older

• You're permanently and totally disabled

• As a beneficiary of the Roth IRA after death of the account owner

• To use up to $10,000 for a first-time home purchase

• You are taking the distribution for qualified education expenses

• You are taking the distribution for unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income for the year (for 2018, it was 7.5%) or health insurance premiums while you are unemployed

• You are taking qualified reservist distributions (for members of the military reserve called to active duty)

• You are taking a series of substantially equal distributions

• The distribution is due to an IRS levy

• You have not held a Roth IRA for at least five years, but you are 59 1/2 or older, permanently and totally disabled, inherited the Roth IRA after death of the account owner or using up to $10,000 for a first-time home purchase

First, to avoid income taxes and a 10% penalty, you must have held a Roth IRA for at least five years. Of note, this condition is satisfied if five years have passed since you first made a contribution to any Roth IRA, not necessarily the one you plan to tap. There is an exception, however; If you’ve converted assets from a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA, each converted amount has its own five-year clock.

Second, you must be age 59½ or older, permanently and totally disabled or using the money for a first-time home purchase (and for that last one, there’s a $10,000 lifetime limit). Beneficiaries are also able to take qualified distributions after the death of the account owner.

If you don’t meet both rules for qualified distributions, the IRS will waive the penalty (but not taxes) if you take a distribution for one of these reasons:

Qualified education expenses

Unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income for the year (7.5% for tax year 2018)

Health insurance premiums while you are unemployed

Qualified reservist distributions (for members of the military reserve called to active duty)

A series of substantially equal periodic payments — recurring distributions designed to help you weather prolonged financial hardships before retirement age — which generally require that you take at least one distribution each year for five years or until you turn 59½, whichever comes later

Outside of those criteria, you may be taxed and penalized on an early withdrawal of earnings. Depending on your tax rate, that could eat a third to half of the taxable portion of your distribution.

In other words: With the exception of rare and dire circumstances, it’s not worth it.

3. How to get started

4. Manage your Roth IRA

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